The Black Balloon (2008)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 97 minuten
Country:
Australia / United Kingdom
Directed by: Elissa Down
Stars: Toni Collette, Rhys Wakefield and Luke Ford
IMDb score:
7,2 (9.451)
Releasedate: 8 March 2008
This movie is not available on US streaming services.
The Black Balloon plot
"Sometimes it's hard to be the odd one in."
It's not so easy for sixteen-year-old Thomas Mollison (Rhys Wakefield). He is constantly ashamed of his family and, to make matters worse, is also regularly embarrassed by his autistic brother. When his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) has to stay in bed, Thomas and his girlfriend are given the responsibility for his autistic brother.
Actors and actresses
Maggie Mollison
Thomas Mollison
Charlie Mollison
Jackie Masters
Woman Next Door
Kid Next Door
Mother in Van
Mr. Masters
Janet-Social Worker
Trevor-Social Worker
Reviews & comments
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Despite the fact that the film again cites a fairly extreme form of ASD (and ADD) that causes the perception of the condition to be wrong, I still enjoyed the film for the most part. Also reminded me in many ways of What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) with Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.
The Mollison family is a busy and very lively family. This is, of course, because of Charlie who is badly in need. The whole family is attuned to him and despite all the efforts, love and help things still get very out of hand. And the brother Thomas is not the least who suffers from the situation. The film cites numerous situations that make it very difficult for Thomas to develop as a teenager. He has a "love-hate" relationship with his brother and secretly hopes that it will all work out one day.
Nice that the emphasis is placed on this in the film. As a result, the other characters such as the parents come into the picture a little less, just like any other parents of other care children or the care center. Because it seemed like they were all alone. That inspection check (possibly following a complaint) came a little too easily out of the blue.
Nice to see Toni Collette again and again, top actress who has never disappointed me. Nice drama with a humorous undertone, but at the same time poignant and courageous...
Translated from Dutch · View original
T.O.
-
- 2462 messages
- 2846 votes
Through the form of a polished teenage film, we see the uneasy dealing with autism behind the front door. Quite a successful concept, although ultimately little new is offered. Toni Collette, with her specific charisma, really adds something to all her scenes.
Translated from Dutch · View original
sinterklaas
-
- 11828 messages
- 3324 votes
Fine Australian version of What's eating Gilbert Grape.
Obviously the film also takes place in the early 90s, or I must be wrong. We follow a family; a military father and an unemployed pregnant mother have their hands full with their two sons; Thomas, who is in the middle of puberty and searching for his identity... and the disabled brother Charlie. In everyday life Thomas seems to have to keep his image clean because he happens to have such a brother. This brother is a loose cannon who cannot talk but only makes sounds, behaves like a small child, has no knowledge of authorities and ethics and perhaps no consciousness or conscience. Gradually we find out that something like this didn't come to Charlie either. And then Thomas falls in love with Jackie, the girl he meets during swimming lessons.
There's a nice love triangle here. You are immensely annoyed by that Charlie; but on the other hand, you also see that doors have to be opened to make him a little more senang. Jackie's contribution seems to work well in that regard. While Charlie is mostly busy with himself, Thomas and Jackie see the chance to declare their love. Then something happens during a dinner that turns the tires upside down.
And The Black Balloon seems to be a beautiful summer Australian coming of age film. As I want to see it. The acting is good; the stressful family situations, the selfishness among the parents, the complex brother relationships between Charlie and Thomas... and the love with Jackie as the icing on the cake. Beautiful summer images... and of course the bullies who sometimes come to look at the corner. Pretty standard, but it still makes it a pleasant movie to watch. These topics are also refreshing from time to time.
4.0*
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